About Our Park

The Queens Zoo opened in 1968 on the site of the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs in Flushing Meadows. Although it was originally administered by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, WCS (then the New York Zoological Society) redesigned the zoo and reopened in 1992. Our incredible aviary was originally a Buckminister Fuller inspired geodesic dome that served as the Winston Churchill Pavilion during the 1964 World’s Fair. However, once the zoo was built, it was transformed to colorful habitat we know today. Make sure to take a walk through this iconic piece of history on your next visit, and encounter its diverse avian residents.

18Acres

Queens Zoo comprises 18 acres in Flushing Meadows, Queens

4,000Puerto Rican Crested Toads

We have bred and released more than 4,000 Puerto Rican crested toads as part of a head-start program

1Andean bear cubs

Queens Zoo has produced the last Andean bear born in North American Zoos.

The Queens Zoo features wildlife native to the Americas. Pathways throughout the park will take you to see the Southern pudu from Chile and Argentina, the American bison from the Great Plains, and Andean bears, the only South American bear species! The farmyard is perfect for kids (or kids at heart) and features rare breeds of domestic animals including Flemish giant rabbits, Texas longhorn cattle, and Jacob’s four-horned sheep. Our intimate setting allows us to fulfill our mission to connect people to animals and nature, and become champions for wildlife.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s network of five urban wildlife parks headquartered at Bronx Zoo have inspired and educated more than 400 million guests since first opening. We hope you'll visit soon and experience it for yourself!